Michael Owen became the new gifted boy in English football very soon. He began his training when he was 10 at Lilleshall Football School. He still holds the regional record with 97 goals in one season, beating mythical Ian Rush and his 72 targets. Lineker and Rush are his great idols.

Since 1998 Owen has been Liverpool’s top scorer every season and hit 19 goals in an injury hit 2003/04 campaign.

The star of Liverpool’s 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, Michael has been with the club since a schoolboy and scored prolifically as he rose rapidly through the Anfield ranks.

During the summer of 1998 he achieved worldwide fame following his stunning strike in the World Cup second round clash between England against Argentina. Off the pitch he collected the PFA Young Player of the Year for season 1997-98 and in 1998 was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

It was in the treble season that Owen continued and enhanced his reputation in the treble season. He hit two goals against AS Roma in the UEFA Cup and followed that up with two magnificent late goals to win the FA Cup Final for Liverpool in Cardiff against Arsenal - a match which has since been called ‘The Michael Owen Cup Final’. That just confirmed his standing as one of the most exciting strikers in Europe.

He followed that up by scoring a sensational hat-trick in England’s 5-1 win over Germany, becoming the first England player since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick against Germany.

Michael was named European Footballer of the Year in December 2001 when he received the prestigious ballon D’or and scored his 100th Liverpool goal against West Ham at Upton Park on 29th December 2001.

In the 2002/03 season Owen scored 28 goals for Liverpool including his 100th in the Premiership with a hat-trick at West Bromwich Albion. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff again when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the Worthington Cup.

He joined Real Madrid, in August 2004, for what looked like a bargain price of £8 mio and despite being one of Real’s most prolific goal scrorers and scoring most of the times he has played, he has never been given enough starts to justify his talent.

Michael returned to the Premiership to join Newcastle on Wednesday 31st August. Although Liverpool were also in the running to re-sign him it was the welcome from the Newcastle fans, Board and Alan Shearer which persuaded him to go to Newcastle United.

A true jewel in England’s crown, Michael Owen has played a major part in England’s fortunes since making his debut at 18 versus Chile in 1998.

A world-class striker with just under a goal every two games in international football, Michael’s combination of skill, pace and ability to read the game make him a unique talent. He scored a wonderful goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup Finals in France and shocked the Germans with a sensational hat-trick in Munich in 2001.

With time on his side, the all-time England goal record is certainly within his grasp.

Track Record:
1 England Cup (2001)
2 League Cups (2001 and 2003)
1 Charity Shield (2001)
1 UEFA Cup (2001)
1 Europe Supercup
Golden Ball(2001)
Best Young Player of the Year (1998)
Celebrity of the Year (1998)